Heel attaching and flap laying machine



- April 13, 1937.

L. J. BAZZONI HEELATTACHING AND FLAP LAYING MACHINE Filed Dec. 17, 1934 5 Sheets-Shag: 1"

April '13, 1937. J, BAZZONl 2,076,537

HEEL ATTACHING AND FLAP LAYlNG MACHINE Filed Dec. 17, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Illll 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 April 13, 1937 L. .I. BAZZONI HEEL ATTACHING AND FLAP LAYING MACHINE Filed Dec; 17, 1934 April 13, 1937. L. .1. BAZZONI HEEL ATTACHING AND FLAP LAYING MACHINE Filed Dec. 17, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 4- A ril 13, 1937.

1., J. BAZZONI HEEL ATTACHING AND FLAP LAYING MACHINE Filed Dec. 17, 1934 5 Sheets-She et 5 Patented Apr. 13, 1937 UNITED STATES HEEL ATTACHING PATENT ()FFICE AND FLAP LAYING MACHINE Lewis J. Bazzoni, Swam United Shoe Machinery pscott, Mass., assignor to Corporation, Paterson,

33 Claims.

This invention relates to the manufacture of shoes and is illustrated as embodied in a machine which may be advantageously used for attaching heels to shoes and for applying covers to the breasts of such heels.

In the manufacture of shoes provided with Louis heels, for example, considerable saving is effected when a heel-breast covering flap, which is split from the rear end of the sole of a shoe,

m is adhesively secured to the breast of the heel While the heel is being attached to the shoe by cement or other means. A machine which may be used for performing both of the above operations is disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 1,409,359, granted March 14, 1922 on an application filed in the name of Bertrand.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved machine of the general type above described. With the above and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with one feature of this invention, a support for a shoe, mechanism for forcing a heel against the heel-seat portion of the shoe with initial pressure, and mechanism constructed and arranged to force the heel against the shoe with secondary pressure and to apply to the breast of the heel a heel-breast covering flap which has been split from the sole of the shoe.

In the illustrated machine the shoe support, which is adapted. to accommodate on-the-last work, may be initially adjusted to the proper heightwise position and may be slid lengthwise and widthwise of the shoe mounted thereon by the operator. The shoe and the heel are positioned lengthwise by a suitable back gage, which engages the rear counter portion of the shoe and the rear end of the heel, and are centralized by a flexible fork which is pivotally mounted upon the main frame of the machine just above the back gage and has sufilcient spread when a heel clamp of the machine is raised to straddle the outside face of the heel and the opposite sides of the counter portion of the shoe. The heel clamp which is operated by a treadle to force the heel against the shoe with initial pressure comprises a block constructed and arranged to engage the tread end of the heel and a bifurcated member which engages the outside faces of the fork and is constructed and arranged to force the fork against the sides of the counter portion of the shoe to centralize the heel end of the shoe and then to engage the rim of the attaching face of the heel to centralize the heel upon the shoe. After the shoe and the heel have been centralized further pressure of the bifurcated member operatingagainst the fork forces the same against the rear and side faces of the heel thereby to press the heel against the shoe. The bifurcated member and the block are connected by mechanism which equalizes the pressure against the tread and the rear and side faces of the heel. The path of movement of the tread block toward and away from the heel may be varied in accordance with the shape of the heel.

The illustrated machine is provided with a resilient pad which is mounted for movement with a pair of operating arms. The arms move about a fixed axis and force the pad against the flap braced by the heel breast to apply the pad progressively to the projecting lip portion of the heel breast. Further swinging movement of the arms causes the pad under pressure of the shoe to pivot relatively to the arms against the pressure of a spring which normally retains the pad in a predetermined position relatively to the arms, thereby to apply the flap progressively to the lower half of the breast of the heel.

In order to trim the flap to the proper length the illustrated machine is provided with a shear plate and a cutter which are carried by the tread block, the cutter being movable relatively to the shear block under pressure of the resilient pad.

These and other features of the invention, as well as certain details of construction and combinations of parts, will be described as embodied in an illustrated machine and pointed out in the appended claims. a

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side view of the illustrated heel-attaching and flap-laying machine, portions of which have been broken away;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1 showing the relative positions of the operating parts of the machine as the heel is pressed against the shoe and the flap is pressed against the breast of the heel;

Fig. 4 is a detail view partly in section of workpositioning and heel-clamping portions of the machine;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating portions of the heel-clamping mechanism and the flapapplying pad, portions of the pad being shown in section;

Fig. 6 is a detail view of portions of the machine as viewed along line VIVI of Fig. 1;

Fig.- 7 is a detail view showing shoe and heel centralizing mechanism of the machine;

Fig. 8 is a sectional View of the machine taken along line VIII-VIII of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a detail view partly in section showing a heel provided with atop-lift and illustrating mechanism for trimming the flap applied to the breast of the heel flush with the top-lift;

Fig. 10 shows a modified type of heel clamp;

Fig. 11 is a front View of the clamp illustrated in Fig. 10; and

Fig. 12 shows a modified type of tread clamp.

The illustrated machine is described with reference to attaching a heel 20 to a shoe 22 and applying a heel-breast covering flap 24 to the breast of the heel.

The shoe 22 to which the heel 20 is to be attached is mounted upon a last 26 and is held against downward movement by a support or jack 28 comprising a last pin 30 formed integral with an H-shaped slide 32 (Fig. 2) mounted for sliding movement forwardly and rearwardly of the machine along a correspondingly shaped guideway of a block 34. In order to permit the operator approximately to position the shoe 22 widthwise in the machine the block 34 has a depending dovetail extension which engages within a slot 36 (Figs. 1 and 3) of a T-shaped member 38. The T-shaped member 38 may be set in different angular positions about a screw 40 which is in threaded relation with a U-shaped member 39. The U-shaped member 39 is mounted upon a large screw 42 which passes through a cylindrical recess of a boss 44 of the main frame and may be raised or lowered by turning a hand nut supported by the boss.

A back gage which positions both the heel '26 and the shoe 22 lengthwise in the machine is pivotally connected to an upstanding arm 52 which may be swung into different adjusted positions about a pin 53 carried by a plate 54. The plate 54 may be adjusted heightwise of the machine in accordance with the heightwise position of the shoe upon the support 28.

Positioned just above and forwardly of the back gage is a heel and shoe centralizing fork 56 which 7 swings freely upon a cylindrical bearing 58 carried by a bracket 66. The bracket 60 may be adjusted heightwise of the machine along a guideway 62 and the bearing 58 may be adjusted forwardly and rearwardly of the machine relatively to the bracket after releasing a set screw 64.

The operator moves the shoe upon the support 28 until the rear end of the counter portion of the shoe 22 engages the back gage 50, the shoe being approximately centralized by eye. The

- heel 20 is then placed upon the heel-seat portion of the shoe, the rear end of the heel engaging the gage 50 to position the same lengthwise of the shoe. A preliminary pressure is then applied to the shoe and to the heel during which the shoe and the heel are positively centralized and the heel is forced against the shoe as will later be explained in detail. Such pressure is applied by lowering a clamp 66 (Figs. 4 and 5) into engagement with the tread end or top-lift-receiving face of the heel and a bifurcated slide 68 into engagement with the outside faces of the arms of the fork 56. Pressure-equalizing mechanism which will be described later connects the clamp 66 and the bifurcated slide 68. The arms of the bifur cated slide 68 are mounted at opposite sides re spectively of a central heightwise plane 16 (Fig. 2) of the machine and. carry threaded studs I2 which are adjustable relatively to the respective arms of the slide and force the fork 56 against opposite sides respectively of the overlasted counter portion of the shoe and then against the rim of the attaching face of the heel to centralize the heel upon the shoe. Further downward pres sure of the bifurcated slide 68 causes the fork 56 to engage the rear and side faces of the heel to force the same downwardly against the shoe. The bifurcated slide 68 is formed integral with a rod 14 which reciprocates in a guideway of a housing I6 and is provided with a rack 16.

The block 66 (Figs. 4 and 5) is swiveled upon a yoke 80 of a rod 82 which reciprocates along a guideway of a housing 84 and is provided with a rack 86 (Fig. 3). A bolt 60 (Fig. 8) is secured to a forwardly projecting boss 92 of the housing 16 by a nut 04 and is substantially encircled by a flange 95 of the housing 84. A pinion 96 is supported by the bolt 90 and is in meshing engagement with the racks I8 and 86. The housing 84 is pivotally adjustable about the axis of the bolt 96 to vary the path of movement of the rod B2 in accordance with the shape of the heel being attached to the shoe. Pivotal adjustment of the housing 84 may be readily effected by releasing a screw 9! which is in threaded relation with a lug 98 of the housing 84 and passes through a slot I00 of a link I02 which is pivotally secured to the housing I6. The link I02 engages fiat faces formed at the upper ends of the rods I4 and 82, respectively, and thus insures that the rods are not turned about their respective axes. When the housing 84 has been angularly adjusted about the bolt 90 the screw 91 is turned to clamp the link I02 to the lug 98 thereby to retain the housing 84 in adjusted position.

The housing I6 is mounted for reciprocation along a guideway I03 of an overhanging projece tion of the main frame of the machine and is provided with a rack I04 constructed and arranged to mesh with a segmental gear I06 which is pinned to a shaft I08 mounted in bearings of the main frame. An arm I09 is also pinned to the shaft I08 and is pivotally connected to a treadle-operated rod IIO which is normally held in a raised position by a spring III.

In order to centralize the shoe and the heel in the machine the operator lowers the treadle-operated rod IIO to swing the segmental gear I06 downwardly and thus moves both housings I6, 84 toward the shoe. As the housings I6, 84 are lowered the studs 12 of the bifurcated slide 68 force the arms of the fork 56 toward each other into engagement with the counter portion of the shoe to centralize the same. As the bifurcated slide 68 continues to exert pressure against the fork 66 the block 66 engages the tread face of the heel. The block 66 and the bifurcated slide 68, as above stated, are connected by equalizing mechanism so that resistant pressure imparted to the downwardly moving bifurcated slide 68 causes the block 66, in event that it has not already engaged the tread face of the heel, to be moved downwardly relatively to the housing 84 and into engagement with the tread face of the heel until the pressure is equal to the pressure exerted against the heel by the fork 56. Further downward movement of the bifurcated slide 68 causes the flexed fork 56 to engage the rim of the attaching face of the heel to centralize the same, the fork being further flexed to force the same into engagement with the rear and side faces of the heel. After the pressure has been equalized further downward movement of the treadle rod IIO forces the heel with initial attaching pressure against the heelseat portion of the shoe. It will be understood that liquid cement or other suitable material was applied to the heel and to the heel-seat portion of the shoe before the heel is applied to the same in order to secure the heel to the shoe.

' After the heel has been forced with initial pressure against the shoe, final attaching pressure is exerted against the heel, and then the heel-breast covering flap 24 is applied to the breast of the heel, liquid cement being applied to the inside face of the flap and the breast of the heel in order adhesively to secure the flap to the heel. If desirable, the heel may be secured to the shoe upper and the flap may be secured to the breast of the heel by the use of a solid film of cellulose derivative, such for example, as pyroxylin.

The heel is forced against the shoe with final pressure by raising a hand lever II2 which also operates the flap-laying mechanism of the machine. The hand lever II2 is pivotally mounted upon a rod I I4 supported by the main frame and is connected through a link II6 to an arm II1 pinned to a shaft I I8. A bell-crank lever portion I20 of a toggle is also keyed to the shaft I I8. The bell-crank lever I20 is pivotally connected to an upper arm portion I22 of the toggle which inturn is connected by a pin I23 to a lever I24, the forward end of which is pivotally connected to the lower end of a rod I 26. The lever I24 is supported by and pinned to a shaft I28 mounted in the machine frame. Upward and downward movement of the hand lever H2 is limited by the engagement of projections I30, I32, respectively, of the bell-crank lever I20 with the rod H4. The projection I30 is constructed and arranged to engage the rod II4 when the toggle is moved P. slightly beyond center, the toggle being maintained in a locked position until the same has been broken by downward movement of the operating lever I I2. After the toggle has been broken the hand lever I I2 is forced into a lowered position under pressure of a spring I 34 and also under pressure of the flap-laying mechanism which will soon be described.

In order to lower a flap-applying pad I36 from a raised position (Fig. 1) to a position adjacent to the shoe before final attaching pressure is applied to the heel, it is desirable to provide lost motion in the mechanism which connects the rod I 26 to the segmental gear I06 and which will be described later. The pad I36 may be swung from a raised or inoperative position (Fig. 1) into close proximity with the heel by raising the hand lever II 2. Continued upward movement of the lever II2 causes the segmental gear I06 to swing downwardly for applying final attaching pressure to the heel and then causes the pad to be applied to the breast of the heel. In order to render the segmental gear I06 inoperative until the pad I36 has been swung to a position adjacent to the heel, the rod I26 is connected to the segmental gear I06 through a floating bearing I38. The bearing I38 includes a pair of spaced forwardly projecting arms I40 (Fig. 6) between which the rod I26 passes. The spring I34 surrounds the rod I26 and is included between a nut. I43 in threaded relation with the rod and a loose collar I44 which is provided with an enlarged opening for receiving the rod and is constructed and arranged to engage within sockets formed in the upper surfaces of the respective arms I40. A collar I46 which is secured to the lower end of the rod I26 is normally in engagement with the lower faces of the arms I 40 and supports the arms until final attaching pressure is exerted against the heel, and the rod I26 causes the spring I34 to be compressed (Fig. 3).

To operate the pad I36 a pair of arms I48 (Fig.-

1) are keyed to opposite ends of the shaft I28 and are pivoted at their forward ends to a pad carrier I50 to which the flap-applying pad I 36 is adjustably secured. The pad carrier I50 is provided with rearward extensions I52 which are normally held in engagement with screws I54, respectively, the screws being in threaded engagement with lugs I56 of the arms I48. The rearward extensions I52 of the carrier I50 are normally held in engagement with the screws I54 through the provision of a pair of springs I58, the lower ends of which are secured to the respective' extensions I52 and the upper ends of which are adjustably secured to extensions of the respective arms I48.

In order to cause downward movement of the rod I26 to urge the segmental gear I06 in a clockwise direction thereby to apply final clamping pressure to the heel just before the pad I36 is moved into engagement with the heel, a pair. of pawls I60 are mountedfor rocking movement upon a pin I62 supported by the floating bearing I 38. The pawls I60 operatively connect the floating bearing I38 to a serrated plate I66 secured to the shaft I08. In order to throw the pawls I60 into and out of engagement with the serrated plate I66 at the proper time the pawls I60 are operatively connected to the pin I23 through mechanism which will now be described. A block I61 is pivotally connected to a rearward extension of one of the pawls I60 and is provided with a bore for receiving a rod I68 which also passes through a bore of the pin I23. A collar I69 is adjustably secured to the rod I 68 and a spring I is mounted upon the rod and is included between the block I61 andthe collar I69. A collar III is adjustably securedto the lower end of the rod I68 and a spring I13 is mounted upon the rod between the collar HI and the pin I23. When the toggle is broken the spring I13 causes the rod to be depressed, as illustrated in Fig. 1, thereby to force a stud I against one of the pawls I60 to swing the pawls away from the serrated plate When the lever H2 is first raised to move the pad I36 from the raised position (Fig. 1) to a position adjacent to the shoe, the pin I23 is moved into engagement with the collar I69. Continued upward movement of the lever I I2 forces the spring I10 against the block I61 and swings one of the pawls I 60 against the serrated plate I66. The floating bearing I38 is therefore operatively connected to the segmental gear I06 and downward movement of the rod I26 through the spring I34 and other mechanism above described causes the heel to be clamped against the shoe with final pressure. It will be noted that the collar I 69 may be adjusted along the rod I68 in accordance with the time at which the final heel-clamping operation is to start.

The pad I 36 is preferably made of resilient material such, for example, as rubber and has se cured to it a metal plate I14 which extends from the pad and is clamped to a block I 16 bolted to the carrier I50 by a pair of screws I18 which pass through elongated openings respectively of the plate I14. The pad I36 may be adjusted in directions indicated by reference numeral I 80 by sliding the plate I14 lengthwise and may be pivotally adjusted about a bolt IBI which connects the block I16 to the carrier I50, upon loosening a nut I83 (Fig. 2) and turning a screw I82 which is in threaded relation with the carrier I50 and has its forward end in engagement with the plate I14.

As the hand lever H2 is swung upwardly the arms I48 move in a clockwise direction and the pad I36, which moves as a unit with the arms, engages the portion of the flap positioned over the projecting part of the breast of the heel and the rear part of the shank portion of the sole, the flap thus being applied to such parts. As considerable pressure is brought to bear against the above-mentioned shoe parts further swinging movement of the arms I48 causes the pad I36 to tilt or swing as a unit in a counterclockwise direction relatively to the carrier I50 against the tension of springs I58 thereby to lay the flap 24 progressively against the heel breast and toward the tread end of the heel.

The central portion of the work-engaging face I84 of the pad I36 is provided with a troughshaped portion I85 (Fig. and is constructed and arranged initially to press the margins of the portion of the flap 24 which covers the projecting part of the heel breast, with considerable pressure against the breast thereby to insure that the same are molded to the heel breast and also slightly to stretch the flap widthwise as the flap is applied to the shoe. The direction of swing and the shape of the pad I36 are such that the flap is applied substantially progressively'from the top of the breast of the heel to the tread end of the heel.

In order to trim the flap to the proper length at the termination of the flap-trimming operation, the tread block 66 has adjustably secured to it a shear plate I86 (Figs. 4 and 5), the end portion of which underlies the end portion of the flap. Pivotally secured to the block 66 through the provision of a pin I86 is a cutter I90 the cutting edge I92 of which is'normally swung to a forward position away from an edge I94 of the shear plate I86 by a spring I96, the lower end of which is secured to the block 66 and the upper end of which is secured to a rearward extension of the cutter I90. Both the shear plate I86 and the'cutter I90 may be initially adjusted relatively to each other through the provision of screw-and-slot connections I98, 200, respectively.

1 The cutter I90 is operated by the pad I36 which forces the cutting edge I92 across the shearing edge I 94, the cutting and the shearing edges having been previously adjusted relatively to the block 66 to insure that the trimmed flap shall be flush with the tread end of the heel. The flap may be trimmed slightly longer than the heel breast in order to inturn the end portion thereof upon'the tread face of' the heel. Fig. 9 illustrates a shoe, the heel of which has already been provided with a top-lift 202. In order to adjust the machine for applying heel-breast covering flaps to heels provided with'top-lifts it is first desirable to adjust the shear plate I86 and the cutter I90 relatively to the block 66 so that the flap is trimmed flush with the attaching face of the top-lift 202.

If desirable, the heel may be positioned widthwise by hand and it is then convenient to provide a back clamp or block 264 (Fig. which cooperates with the tread block 66 to force the heel against the shoe and which is pivotally secured to a rod 206 corresponding to the rod I4 above described. In order to protect the heel cover from being scarred by the back clamp 204 an apron 208 is secured to and hangs freely from the housing 16. As the housing I6 and the back clamp 204 are lowered the apron 208, which is preferably made of leather, is flexed as illustrated in Fig. 10, the back clamp 204 engaging the outside face of the apron. The friction between the apron 208 and the heel is greater than the friction between the back clamp 204 and the apron 208 and there is therefore no movement of the apron relatively to the heel during the clamping operation. The apron 208 is of suitable thickness to insure that the heel is not injured during the heel-attaching and flap-applying operation.

Although the machine is illustrated as equipped with mechanism for trimming the flap to the proper length, it will'be understood that such mechanism may be removed and the flap trimmed by hand after the shoe has been removed from the machine. The pad I36 may be quickly removed from the machine and replaced by another pad in accordance with the type of work being operated upon.

When it is not desired to trim the end of the flap it has been found advantageous to use a tread clamp 210 such as illustrated in Figi l2. The clamp 2I0 comprises an'arcuate heel-engag ing plate 2 I 2 provided with a flange 2 I4 construct ed and arranged to engage within a recess of a block 2I6 formed at the lower end of the rod I4. A pin 2I0 the ends of which are secured to the block 2 I6 and the central portion of'which passes through an arcuate slot 220 formed in the flange of the clamp carries the clamp 2I2 and limits the angular movement of the clamp 2 I2 relatively to the block 2I6. The clamp 2I2 adjusts itself in accordance with the shape of the heel.

In order to perform the heel-attaching and the flap-applying operation the operator, after forcing the rear end of the shoe and the heel against the back-gage 50, depresses thetreadleoperated rod III) to lower the housings I6 and 84 thereby to cause the bifurcated slide 68 'to'be forced against the fork 56 and to cause the tread clamp 66 to be forced against the tread end of the heel. As the fork 56 is closed by the bifurcated slide 68 the shoe and the heel are centralized, the pressure between the rear and. side faces of the heel and the tread end of the same being equalized. If it is desirable to readjust the heel upon the shoe at this time the clamping pressure may be relieved by raising the treadleoperated rod I I0, after which the heel is shifted to its proper position upon the shoe, assuming that the back clamp 204 (Fig. 10) is used. Whenever the forward end of the lip portion of the heel has to be reshaped to insure that it shall merge smoothly with the shank of the sole, the operator uses a rasp or sanding device upon the heel thereby perfecting the joint between the forward end of the heel and the shank of the sole. If the lip of the heel has been operated upon as above described the abraded surfaces which may have been previously coated with cement are re-ccvered. It is the practice in some face tories to attach the heel before any cement is applied to the flap or to the heel breast and accordingly it is customary in such factories to apply cement to the flap and to the breast of the heel at this time.

The rasping and the cementing operations referred to above are old, these operations being practiced in the use of the machine disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 1,409,359 above referred to and also being practiced by users of the method disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 1,615,258, granted January 25, 1927, on an application filed in the name of Maurice Bresnahan, while the heel is held clamped to the shoe and the shoe is mounted upon a bench spindle. When the heel has been properly positioned upon the shoe and the above-mentioned operations, if necessary, have been performed, the lever H2 is raised to cause the pad I36 to swing toward the shoe. Before the pad I36 is pressed against the projecting portion of the breast of the heel one of the pawls I60 is thrown into engagement with the serrated plate I66 to cause the final attaching pressure, to be exerted against the heel by the fork 56 and the tread clamp 66. After the pad I36 has exerted a predetermined amount of pressure against the shoe the pad I36 pivots in a counter-clockwise direction relatively to the operating arm I48 and against the tension of springs I58 thereby progressively to lay the flap upon the heel breast toward the tread end of the heel. After the shoe has been subjected to pressure for a short period the operator lowers the hand lever I I2 and causes the tread-operated rod I I 6 to be raised. The shoe is then removed from the support.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a covering machine, a support for a shoe which has a Louis heel and a covering flap to be applied to the breast of the heel, a member movable in a fixed path relatively to the support, a deformable pad movable with the member, resilient means constructed and arranged to maintain the pad in predetermined relation to said member as the pad moves along a portion of said path, and mechanism for causing the pad to swing relatively to said member against the action of said resilient means and under pressure of the shoe against the pad thereby to apply the covering flap to the breast of the heel.

2. In a covering machine, a support for a shoe provided with a Louis heel and having a covering flap which is to be applied to the heel, a

member, and a deformable pad pivotally mounted upon the member, said member being mounted for movement in a predetermined path to force the pad against the shoe, said pad being constructed and arranged to swing toward the heel with relation to said member under pressure of the shoe as said member moves in said path thereby to apply the flap to the breast of the heel progressively toward the top-lift receiving face of the heel.

3. In a covering machine, a support for a shoe provided with a Louis heel and having a flap to be applied to the breast of the heel, a member, and a deformable pad supported by the memher, said member being movable toward the support about an axis to force the pad against the shank of the sole of the shoe, said pad being mounted for swinging movement about another axis in a direction opposite to the direction of swinging movement about said first-named axis first-named axis, the pad having a work-engaging face a leading portion of which is positioned in close proximity to a plane including said axes.

5. In a, machine for applying a covering flap to the breast of the heel of a shoe, a support 1 for the shoe, and a deformable pad movable about two axes which are arranged in substantially parallel relation, the pad and the support being located at opposite sides of a general plane which includes said axes, said pad being constructed and arranged to rotate about one of said axes as the pad is forced around the other of said axes against the shoe.

6. In a covering machine, a support for a shoe provided with a Louis heel and having a flap to be appliedto the breast of the heel, a member, a deformable pad supported by the member, said member being movable toward the support about an axis to force the pad into engagement with the rear end of the shank of the shoe, and resilient means for maintaining the pad in predetermined position with relation to the member until the pad engages the shoe, said pad being mounted for swinging movement about an axis in a direction opposite to the direction of swinging movement about said first-named axis under pressure of the shoe against the pad thereby to lay the flap upon the breast of the heel progressively toward the top-lift-receiving face of. the heel. v

, 7. In a machine of the class described, a member movable in a predetermined path and pro,- vided with an abutment-a resilient pad, a carrier pivotally secured to the member and constructed and arranged to support the pad, resilient means for urging the carrier against said abutment, and means for swinging the member, said carrier and pad being constructed and arranged to swing relatively to the member against the force exerted by said resilient means under pressure of the pad against a work piece as the member is moved along said path.

8. In a machine for applying covering flaps to the breasts of heels, a member movable in a predetermined path and provided with an abutment, a resilient pad, a pad support carried by said member and mounted for swinging movement relatively to the member, a spring for urging the support against said abutment, means for swinging the member, said support and said pad being constructed and arranged to swing .relatively tothe member against tension of said spring and under pressure of the pad against a heel as the member is moved in said path, and means for adjusting the pad relatively to the support.

9. In a machine of theclass described, a support for a shoe, a member pivotally movable about an axis, a carrier pivotally mounted upon said member, a resilient pad secured to said carrier, resilient means for normally maintaining the carrier in a predetermined position relatively to the member, and means for swinging the member about said axis to cause the pad to apply a heel breast covering flap to the upper portion of the breast of a heel secured to the shoe, said member and said carrier being constructed and arranged to cause the pad to swing relatively to .the member against the tension of said resilient means after the pad has applied the flap to the. upper portion of the breast of the heel thereby to apply'the flap to the lower portion of said breast. g

10. In a machine of the class described, a support for a shoe, a gage for positioning the shoe lengthwise upon the support and a heellengthwise upon the shoe, a member for centralizing a heel with respect to the shoe, a clamp which comprises said member and is constructed and arranged to force the heel against the heel-seat portion of the shoe, means for independently operating said clamp to force theheel with initial pressure against said heel seat, a resilient pad constructed and arranged to lay a heel breast covering flap split from the sole of the shoe against the breast of the heel, means for operating said pad, and mechanism operatively connected to said pad operating means for yieldingly forcing the heel with secondary pressure against the heel-seat portion of the shoe as said pad operating means forces the heel-breast covering flap against the breast of the heel.

11. In a machine of the class described, a support for a shoe, and an equalizer clamp for forcing a heel against the shoe to secure the heel to the shoe, said clamp comprising a member movable in a predetermined path to engage the tread end of the heel and a member movable in another predetermined path to engage the outside face of the heel, one of said members being pivotally adjustable relatively to the other to change its path of movement relatively to the path of movement of the other member.

12. In a machine of the class described, a support for a shoe, an equalizer clamp comprising a pair of housings each of which is provided with a guideway, a pair of spaced heel engaging members slidable along the respective guideways, and means for angularly adjusting one of the housings relatively to the other to vary the path of travel of one of said heel engaging members relat'ively to the other.

13. In a machine of the class described, a support for a shoe, 'a pair of members provided with rack portions and constructed and arranged to engage the tread and the outside faces respectively of a heel, a pair of housings mounted for relative adjustment about an axis and provided with guideways along which the respective members oscillate, a pinion mounted for rotation about said axis and constructed and arranged to 40 mesh with said rack portions, and means for moving the housings as a unit to cause the members to force the heel against the shoe with equalizing action.

14. In a machine of the class: described, a support for a shoe, a back gage for positioning a heel lengthwise of the shoe, a fork positioned in front of the back gage and supported upon a fixed pivot, an equalizing presser unit comprising a tread plate and a bifurcated member, and means for operating said unit to cause the tread plate to engage the tread end of the heel and to cause the bifurcated member to force the fork against the counter portion of the shoe as well as against the outside face of the heel thereby l to position the shoe and the heel widthwise in the inachine.

15. In a machine of the class described, a support for 'a shoe, a back gage for positioning a heel lengthwise of the shoe, a fork positioned in 60 front of the backgage and supported upon a fixed pivot, an equalizing presser unit comprising a tread plate and a bifurcated member, a

resilient pad, means for moving the presser unit to cause the tread plate to engage the tread end 65 of the heel and to cause the bifurcated member to force the fork against the rear and side' faces of the heel, means for operating the pad to cause the same to apply a heel breast covering flap to the breast of the heel, and a lever for operating 70 said means.

'16. In a machine of the class described, a support for a shoe, and a clamp unit for forcing a heel against the heel-seat portion of the shoe, said'unit comprising a block and a flexible apron 75 w h'ieh is interposed between the block and the heel and is constructed and arranged to remain substantially stationary relatively to the heel as the heel and the block are relatively moved to clamp the heel thereby to prevent a cover of the heel from being rubbed.

17. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a support for a shoe, a clamp unit, means for effecting relative movement of the support and the clamp unit to secure a heel to the shoe, said clamp unit comprising a tread clamp and a member spaced from the clamp, and a flexible apron which is normally positioned out of contact with said member and is constructed and arranged to be forced between the member and the heel during relative movement of the support and the unit.

18. In a machine of the class described, a support for a shoe, and means for forcing a heel against the heel-seat portion of the shoe, said means comprising a member movable toward and away from the support, a block mounted for rectilinear as well as pivotal movement relatively to 'said member, and a sheet of flexible material which is secured to said member and is normally out of contact with said block, said sheet material being formed and arranged to be forced by the heel against the block during movement of said memberand to be interposed between the heel and the block when the heel is forced against the shoe.

19. In a machine of the class described, a shoe support, a centralizing fork provided with a pair of arms constructed and arranged to straddle a heel in engagement with the heel-seat portion of a shoe upon the support and also to overlap the sides of the counter portion of the shoe, and a clamp for forcing the heel against the heel-seat portion of the sole to secure the heel to the shoe, said clamp comprising a bifurcated member mounted for movement toward and away from,

against opposite sides of the rim of the attacha ing face of the heel to centralize the heel upon the shoe prior to forcing the heel with attaching pressure against the heel-seat portion of the shoe.

20. In a machine of the class described, a sup-,

port for a shoe, a centralizing fork constructed and arranged to straddle the outside face of a heel in engagement with the heel-seat portion of the shoe and also to overlap the sides of the counter portion of the shoe, and a clamp for forcing the heel against the heel-seat portion of the shoe to secure the heel to the shoe, said clamp comprising a block for engaging the "tread end of the heel, a bifurcated member constructed and arranged to force the fork against opposite sides of the counter portion of the shoe to centralize the same and also against opposite sides of the rim of the attaching face of the heel to centralize the heel upon the heel-seat portion of the shoe, and pressure equalizing means constructed and arranged to connect-the bifurcated member and the block. v 21. In a machine of the class described, a s upport for a shoe, a pivotally mounted centralizing fork constructed and arranged to straddle the outside face of a heel in engagement with the heel-seat portion of the's-hoe and also'to overlap the sides of the counter portion of the shoegand a clamp for forcing 'the heel against the heelseat portion of the sole to secure the heel to the shoe 'said clamp comprising a-block for engaging the tread portion of the heel and a bifurcated member provided with a pair of fork-engaging portions movable in predetermined paths and constructed and arranged to engage the outside faces respectively of the fork to cause the fork to centralize the heel-seat portion of the shoe and to centralize the heel upon said heel-seat portion, said fork-engaging portions being adjustable relatively to each other.

22. In a machine of the class described, means for securing a heel to a shoe, means for applying a heel breast covering flap to the breast of the heel, and means for trimming the flap to a predetermined length.

23. In a machine for operating upon a shoe having a heel attached thereto and a sole formed with a flap at the rear end thereof for covering the breast of the heel, means for supporting the shoe, means comprising a pad adapted to conform under pressure to the surface of the breast of the heel to apply the flap to the breast of the heel progressively from the attaching face to the top lift end of the heel, and means for trimming the flap to the proper length.

24. In a machine of the class described, means comprising a resilient pad constructed and arranged to apply a heel breast covering flap to the breast of a heel, and means comprising a cutter operated by said pad for trimming the flap to a predetermined length.

25. In a machine of the class described, a support for a shoe, means comprising a movable tread block for clamping a heel against the heelseat portion of the shoe, a shear member movable with said block, a cutter, a resilient pad movable in a predetermined path and constructed and arranged to apply a heel breast covering flap to the breast of the heel and to operate said cutter past the shearing member thereby to trim the flap to a predetermined length.

26. In a machine of the class described, a support for a shoe, means for positioning the shoe upon the support, means comprising a tread block movable toward and away from the support and constructed and arranged to clamp a heel against the heel-seat portion of the shoe, a shearing plate secured to said block, a cutter movable relatively to the plate, a spring for moving the cutter away from the plate, and a resilient pad movable in a predetermined path and constructed and arranged to apply a heel breast covering flap to the breast of the heel and to operate the cutter against pressure of said spring past the shearing plate thereby to trim the flap to a predetermined length.

27. In a machine of the class described, a support for a shoe, means for forcing a heel with initial pressure against the heel-seat portion of the shoe, and means constructed and arranged to force the heel against the shoe with a secondary attaching pressure and to apply progressively to the breast of the heel a heel breast covering flap secured to the sole of the shoe.

28. In a machine for operating upon shoes, a Work positioning and clamping unit comprising a flexible fork, a bifurcated member constructed and arranged to flex the fork as it forces the same against the work, and means for operating said member.

29. In a machine for operating upon shoes, a work positioning and clamping unit comprising a pair of flexible arms constructed and arranged to straddle the counter portion of a shoe and the rear end of a heel upon the heel-seat portion of the shoe, and a bifurcated member constructed and arranged to move the arms into engagement with the counter portion of the shoe to centralize the shoe.

30. In a machine of the class described, a support for a shoe, means for positioning the shoe lengthwise, a flexible fork constructed and arranged to straddle the counter portion of the shoe and a heel placed upon the heel-seat portion of the shoe, and means including a bifurcated memthe fork to position the shoe and the heel widthwise and then to clamp the heel against the shoe.

31. In a machine of the class described, a support for a shoe, a block for engaging the tread face of a heel upon the shoe, a flexible fork constructed and arranged to straddle the counter of the fork thereby to position the shoe widthwise upon the support and then to position the heel widthwise upon the shoe and finally to force the fork against the outside face of the heel to cooperate with the block in forcing the heel with considerable pressure against the heel-seat portion of the shoe.

32. In a covering machine, a pad, a support for a shoe, means for effecting relative movement of the pad and the support to apply a covering flap to the breast of a heel of the shoe, and shearing mechanism for trimming the end of the flap to a predetermined length.

33. In a covering machine, a support for a shoe provided with a Louis heel and having a covering flap which is to be applied to the heel, a deformable pad, means for effecting relative movement of the support and the pad to apply the cover to the breast of the heel progressively toward the top-lift-receiving face of the heel, and mechanism for trimming the flap flush with the top-lift-receiving face of the heel.

LEWIS J. BAZZONI. 

